Japanese group to auction Lady Blunt Strad violin

One of the world's best preserved Stradivarius violins a rare and valuable instrument that dates back to 1721 is being auctioned off to raise funds forJapanese earthquake and tsunami relief.

The violin named after early owner Lady Anne Blunt, an aristocrat and granddaughter of Lord Byron is in "pristine" condition because it has been played infrequently during its lifetime. It carries a storied provenance, having been owned by several important collectors over the centuries.

"It still shows the tool marks and brushstrokes of Stradivari," violin expert, maker and restorer Christopher Reuning, who runs Boston's Reuning & Son Violins, said in a statement.

"The Lady Blunt is perhaps the best-preserved Stradivarius to be offered for sale in the past century."

Japan's Nippon Music Foundation purchased the instrument privately for more than $10 million US in 2008. It will sell the violin on June 20, through fine instrument auctioneer Tarisio. The classical music advocacy group owns 19 Stradivari violins, many of which are loaned out to top musicians.

"Each of the instruments in our collection is very dear to us," foundation president Kuzuko Shiomi said in the same statement, which refers to the Lady Blunt as "the crown" of the foundation's collection of rare stringed instruments.

"However, the extent of the devastation facing Japan is very serious and we feel that everyone and every organization should make some sacrifice for those affected by this tragedy," she added.

Before its 2008 sale to the Nippon Foundation, the Lady Blunt fetched about$200,000 US at a Sotheby's auction in London in 1971.

The current auction record for a violin is the approximately $3.6 million US paid for another Stradivari instrument, sold in 2010 by Tarisio.

The auctioneer plans to tour the Lady Blunt internationally includingorganizing private viewings inNew York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Seoul, Tokyo, and Zurich in advance of the June sale.

All proceeds of the violin's sale will benefit the Nippon Foundation's Northeastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.